19th Century Southern Ontario Part 4: Second Empire

flar · #1 Posted **Jun 26, 2009, 3:48 PM**

19th Century Southern Ontario

Part 1: Georgian, Neo-Classical, Regency
Part 2: Gothic Revival
Part 3: Italianate
Part 5: Queen Anne, Romanesque
Part 6: Late Victorian urban housing

Part 4: Second Empire

The mansard roof characterizes Second Empire houses, otherwise they share many features with Italianate. The Second Empire and Italianate styles were popular around the same time as well, approximately from the 1860s to 1880s. In contrast to Italianate, there are very few Second Empire houses in rural areas. A Second Empire home was often associated with wealth, and there are many to be found in Southern Ontario's cities, especially Toronto.

Second Empire is somewhat rare in small towns, but excellent examples are out there.

St. Mary's

Paris

The Dresden example has been vandalized by a modern addition

Waterdown

Second Empire is a mainstay in Toronto's Cabbagetown

Hamilton has some interesting examples

Stratford

Woodstock

St. Catharines

London

PHX31 · #2 Posted **Jun 26, 2009, 4:03 PM**

Loved all of these 19th century threads... The second empire homes are my favorite. In the first picture, imagine a dark and stormy night and you have a quintessential haunted house. They are great.

Wheelingman04 · #3 Posted **Jun 28, 2009, 10:12 PM**

This style is probably my favorite too.

xzmattzx · #4 Posted **Jun 29, 2009, 2:04 PM**

Nice pictures. These houses are nice. I don't think I've ever seen or noticed Second Empire rowhouses before; I always picture large houses on big properties, or commercial buildings.

flar · #5 Posted **Jul 2, 2009, 5:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHX31

Loved all of these 19th century threads... The second empire homes are my favorite. In the first picture, imagine a dark and stormy night and you have a quintessential haunted house. They are great.

I always think of Second Empire haunted houses too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by xzmattzx

Nice pictures. These houses are nice. I don't think I've ever seen or noticed Second Empire rowhouses before; I always picture large houses on big properties, or commercial buildings.

Ottawa has a lot of Second Empire, in rowhouse form too.

denveraztec · #6 Posted **Jul 10, 2009, 2:13 AM**

Second Empire totally reminds me of country homes in France. Excellent shots again!

Evergrey · #7 Posted **Aug 12, 2009, 3:15 AM**

Second Empire might be my all-time favourite style... after deconstructionism...